WR Golden Tate may be holding his breath offseason as he awaits a verdict on his future in Seattle. / Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports

by Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports

by Tom Pelissero, USA TODAY Sports

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The Seattle Seahawks' receiving options and defensive line could be headed for significant shakeups after their Super Bowl victory as the team prepares to lock up its young core for the long haul.

Most important in that core are safety Earl Thomas and cornerback Richard Sherman, who are scheduled to become free agents after next season and figure to be offered lucrative, long-term extensions before then.

Left tackle Russell Okung and quarterback Russell Wilson top the players up after 2015, with Okung's large salary cap number ($11.24 million) making him another candidate for a new deal as soon as this summer.

And several contributors, including defensive lineman Michael Bennett, receiver Golden Tate, right tackle Breno Giacomini, defensive tackle Tony McDaniel, cornerback Walter Thurmond and kicker Steven Hauschka, are on the list of players who can become unrestricted free agents in March.

It all leaves Seattle in position to seek cap and cash relief elsewhere, and there is no shortage of places to find it.

Injury-plagued receiver Sidney Rice, who blew out his knee Oct.28, probably has played his last game for the Seahawks unless he's willing to accept a substantial cut from his scheduled $8.5 million base salary in 2014 to lower his $9.7 million cap number.

The same goes for tight end Zach Miller, who is due a $1 million roster bonus on the 10th day of the league year in March on top of his $4.8 million base salary, with a cap number of $7 million for 2014.

The Seahawks' other top two receivers from this season, Tate and Doug Baldwin, are unsigned for 2014. Baldwin can only become a restricted free agent and figures to return. The plan with Tate might depend in part on how much faith the Seahawks decide they can put in Percy Harvin.

Harvin's $11 million base salary for 2014 is guaranteed for injury only until the fifth day of the waiver period, when it would become fully guaranteed. But there are no indications Seattle intends to cut bait one year after acquiring him from the Minnesota Vikings for a package of draft picks.

On defense, ends Red Bryant and Chris Clemons both have bloated cap figures that make them candidates for restructure or release. It would be almost impossible to pay them and also bring back Bennett, who was highly productive on a one-year deal and figures to be a priority to re-sign.

That Bryant is due a $3 million roster bonus on the fourth day of the league year could hasten his exit. He's also due a $4.5 million base salary and has a cap number of $8.5 million in 2014. Clemons might get a pass to a degree because he was coming off knee surgery this season. But he's older (32) and is due a $7.5 million base salary in 2014, with a cap number of $9,666,668.

Of the other players who can become free agents next month, McDaniel, Giacomini and Hauschka are candidates for multiyear deals. Thurmond figures to command no more than a one-year contract, given that he's one positive drug test away from a one-year suspension.